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Best 3-season sleeping bag for a hammock?

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tobes01

tobes01

Full Member
May 4, 2009
1,918
46
Hampshire
I've been following a number of threads on sleeping bags recently, but wonder if anyone's got a 'perfect' 3-season bag for a hammock? I guess the spec might be:
- Down filled
- Centre zip
- Packs small/light
- 'Long' size available

I'm currently using a Snugpak Elite which is great, but the side zip is a pain.

TIA,

Tobes
 
How about a down top quilt Tobes, you're seriously saving weight and bulk by not having to carry the wasted bottom insulation

I went to see Mat at UKHammocks a few weeks ago and had a chat about what I wanted. A week later I was the owner of a magical 520g full length top quilt with enough down in there to see me through three seasons.
 
Last edited:
Why not just use a down sleeping bag as a quilt,open the zip and lay it on top of you.
 
tobes01 said:
I've been following a number of threads on sleeping bags recently, but wonder if anyone's got a 'perfect' 3-season bag for a hammock? I guess the spec might be:
- Down filled
- Centre zip
- Packs small/light
- 'Long' size available

I'm currently using a Snugpak Elite which is great, but the side zip is a pain.

TIA,

Tobes
Click to expand...

Agree with you about the side zip, I was wondering the same.
 
Shewie said:
How about a down top quilt Tobes, you're seriously saving weight and bulk by not having to carry the wasted bottom insulation

I went to see Mat at UKHammocks a few weeks ago and had a chat about what I wanted. A week later I was the owner of a magical 375g full length top quilt with enough down in there to see me through three seasons.
Click to expand...

Got pics? and if you dont mind me asking what sort of price for that?
 
resnikov said:
Got pics? and if you dont mind me asking what sort of price for that?
Click to expand...

I'll get some pics tonight mate, I've been meaning to do a review but I've not been out hanging since I got it so can't really comment on the performance.

I was going to order one from Adam at Hammockgear.com for around $280 delivered but after getting the heads up about Mat I went over to see him, I paid £130 and took a drive to pick it up.

I think if anyone's serious about hammock camping then it's hard to ignore a top quilt and underquilt combination.
 
sapper1 said:
Why not just use a down sleeping bag as a quilt,open the zip and lay it on top of you.
Click to expand...

As opposed to a dedicated top quilt? The sleeping bag layer open is way wider than it needs to be, so you're carrying extra weight for nothing.

I'd like to try converting my down bag into a tq. Take the width in (removin the zip), remove the hood, ad keep the existing footbox. The down I recouperate could go towards overstuffing my uq, or I could make a down pillow.
 
Sorry for the slow response, busy day at work.

I've got a Snugpak quilt that I bought second hand here, and it's a great bit of kit but a) it doesn't seem that much smaller/lighter than a sleeping bag, and b) I've been cold in June with that on me (and I usually sleep warm). Hence why I was tempted to go back to a sleeping bag. I love the Snugpak underquilt, that's wonderful.

Very grateful for experiences of other quilts.
 
I use my 2/3 season down bag in the hammock with various down UQ's . I never zip the bag up in the hammock-its much warmer and easier used as a quilt. I'd really miss a sleeping bag when sleeping on the ground and I find its a more flexible way of doing things.

My present favourite bag is my Montbell down superstretch No 5. Not cheap but the elasticated baffles really help the loft when used as a quilt.
 
Great thread, as I am in the same postion as some here. I have a good hammock (BMBH) and a 3/4 length unsponsored UQ, which I have been using with an old 58 pattern bag. I want to get a decent down bag or full UQ & like the idea of a hammock duvet (i.e. top only), which sounds like a good idea with a decent UQ. I will check out the British Hammocks guy, as that sounds like an interesting route, rather than order from the US. I will look into these options.
 
I've used that centre zip snugpak army 3 season one with no underblanket down to 5 degrees celcius and I was snug as a bug. It was only £75 too.
 
How about a cheap foam mat "hard top" cut to shape a bit like a roofbox and held in shape with velcro... with enough of a void underneath to allow space for a lighter bag, some movement and breathing room.

It "could" work
 
mountainm said:
Given that Top quilts are about £150+ for a nice down one, why not just buy a single goose down duvet for less than half that.

This one is 85% goose down, £75's for a 10.5 tog. Dunno what the "tog" rating of the topquilts are on UKhammocks

http://www.goosedownduvets.org.uk/linea-goose-down-duvet.html
Click to expand...


What's the weight and pack size on one of those things though Mike ? You could trash one and try to separate the feathers from the down, then get some down proof fabric and sew in the baffles and the footbox.
 
Shewie said:
What's the weight and pack size on one of those things though Mike ? You could trash one and try to separate the feathers from the down, then get some down proof fabric and sew in the baffles and the footbox.
Click to expand...

If it's 85% down then the only real weight difference will be in the shell material. I've tried to get dims, but no joy

this one (100% down) £73's

http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Hunga...05MY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1307450741&sr=8-6

weighs less than a kilo (which probably includes the packaging)

this
Fully machine washable @ 40 degrees. Sealed for hygiene.
Click to expand...
is also a useful feature
 
mountainm said:
If it's 85% down then the only real weight difference will be in the shell material. I've tried to get dims, but no joy

this one (100% down) £73's

http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Hunga...05MY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1307450741&sr=8-6

weighs less than a kilo (which probably includes the packaging)

this is also a useful feature
Click to expand...

Apart from the obvious bulk I'm sure there's other reasons why we don't take our bed duvets with us camping, maybe Mat will chime in later an explain the difference because I don't have a clue.
Maybe get one and pull out the filling, get some decent lightweight water resistant fabric and have a go
 
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